What Are These For?

totaledmygn · January 9, 2009

A friend of mine recently purchased a 2008 sierra crew 1500 4wd and is doing some mods. He wants to install/build a receiver style hitch setup on the front of his truck for a portable winch. On the bottom of the front frame rails there are 2 brackets that he can't figure out what they are for.(jack points?) If they serve no real purpose he will torch them. A couple dealers couldn't tell him what they were for so I turn to the internet for answers. thanks

VMax2007 · January 9, 2009

I believe what you are referring to are the safety devices (I don't know what they are called?) to prevent the trucks from riding up and over smaller vehicles in the even of an collision.

I wouldn't remove them if I were him. That would be good cause for a lawsuit in the event of an injury crash. Removing/disabling factory installed safety devices is illegal.

markw8 · January 10, 2009

I don't believe it's illegal for a private owner to remove most or all factory installed saftey equiptment. Maybe not smart but not illegal.

Mark.

VMax2007 · January 10, 2009

I don't believe it's illegal for a private owner to remove most or all factory installed saftey equiptment. Maybe not smart but not illegal.

Mark.

Yes, it is.

2000DV4.8 · January 10, 2009

norsemanberg · January 10, 2009

I don't want to argue, but where does it say that it is illegal?

VMax2007 · January 10, 2009

I don't want to argue, but where does it say that it is illegal?

I am going by a report/story I watched on the news about this about a year ago or so.

Zembonez · January 10, 2009

Without a picture how the hell are we supposed to know he isn't talking about headlights... or front wheels?

VMax2007 · January 10, 2009

I found this:

In the U.S., it is illegal to remove or disable the front airbags (drivers or passengers) in a car of any model year for which they were required. The only exceptions involve medical conditions that make it unsafe to sit behind an airbag. Additionally, the states in the U.S. prohibit operating a vehicle from which any federally required safety equipment (including airbags, seatbelts, headlights, etc.) has been removed.

But it appears the safety equipment must be Federally mandated.

I have no idea if these safety hooks (or whatever they are called?) are Federally mandated, but my guess would be yes, since they add weight and cost money.

Z71kris · January 10, 2009

I found this:

In the U.S., it is illegal to remove or disable the front airbags (drivers or passengers) in a car of any model year for which they were required. The only exceptions involve medical conditions that make it unsafe to sit behind an airbag. Additionally, the states in the U.S. prohibit operating a vehicle from which any federally required safety equipment (including airbags, seatbelts, headlights, etc.) has been removed.

But it appears the safety equipment must be Federally mandated.

I have no idea if these safety hooks (or whatever they are called?) are Federally mandated, but my guess would be yes, since they add weight and cost money.

I will go with that!

dlstewart01 · January 10, 2009

Remove safety equipment, get into a crash where there is a fatality and see what happens to you. Will not be my azz, but you will wish you had not removed said equipment.